Manually-operated electric coupling.



T. R. BROWN. IVIANUALLY OPERATED ELECTRIC COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I0. 1914.

Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

E. FE. BROWN. MANUALM: OPERATED ELECTRIC COUPLING.

AEPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 3914.

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- w VE n cw H W F M a THQMAS ERGW, G1? SPARK'ELL, hlElf/lYGRK, ASSIGNGR TO TIE E 'WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY, (19F WILMERZDING, PENNSYLVAEFTIA, A CORPORATION 01 BENN- srnvnnre.

MANUALLYOPEEATED ELECTRIC COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pgytgnted Oct, 23, 1917,

Application filed April 10, 1914-. Serial No. 231,009.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that i, THOMAS H. BROWN, a citizen of the .United States, residing at Sparkill, in the county of Rockland and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Manually-Operated Electric Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention relates to electric train line couplings, and more particularly to that type in whicha movable contact carrier is adapted to be projected to connect ii red contacts in counterpart couplings and thereby close corresponding train line circuits.

The principal object of my invention isto provide manually operated mechanical means for projecting the contact carrier of an-electric line coupllng of the above type.

The invention also has other objects and advantages which will be apparent in the following more detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is 'a vertical longitudinal section of counterpart couplings for electric train line circuits in the coupled position and embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 a similar section of 2. angle coupling, showing the parts in normal release position; Fig. 3 a fragmentary section on the'line a-a of Fig. 9.; Fig. e an enlarged detail view. of the spring mechanism for the contact carrier; Fig. 5 a horizontal section of the coupling on the line b-b of Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 a transverse section on the line c-o of Fig. 2.

As shown in the drawings, thecoupling may comprise a casing 1 containing a plurahty of fixed contacts 2 arranged in a horizontalrow and connected to corresponding train line circuits.

. within the casing 1 is a movable slide or ported by guide members preferably com-' Mounted to reciprocate longitudinally contact carrier 3 having electrically connect ed contact bars 4' and 5 adapted upon projection of the contact carrier to connect corresponding fixed contacts 2 of counterpart couplingsand thereby close the several train line circuits between the cars of the train.

At each side, the contact carrier 3 is supposed of; interlocked pipe sections 6, each section bein cut to provide three iro ecting tongues aving the outer ends 7 extended laterally to form-shoulders adapted to interlock with corresponding shoulders of pipe sections 6 and the other end of the spring 9 engages a washer llsecured to the inner end of the contact carrier 3.

'According to my present invention, means are provided for projecting the slide manually and mechanically, and for this'purpose cured to the under side of the contact carrier 3 and a pinion 13 meshing with each rack. The pinions 13 are mounted on a shaft 14 transversely mounted in the casing l and the opposite ends of the shaft are each provided with an operating handle 15.

in order to lock the contact carrier 3 in its projected position, a trip. lever 16 is mounted in the rear of the casing l in position to engage a projecting lug 17 of the contact carrier when in pro ected position. Said lever 16 is mounted on a transverse shaft 18 having bearings in the casing 1 and opposite ends of the shaft carry opera-ting handles 19. A spring 20 is applied to the shaft 18 and acts on the lever 16 to yield ingly press the same toward the contact carrier.

Normally, the parts of the coupling are in the positions shown in Fig. 2. If a coupling between cars is to be made the meeting faces of counterpart couplingsare brought vinto engagement and then one of the handles 1 preferably employ a pair of racks 12 sethe fixed contact 3 of the counterpart coupling, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Upon movement of the contact carrier to the projected position, the trip lever l6v drops into locking position and thereby prevents the return movement of the carrier.

Uncoupling'inay be effected by turning one of the handles 19 so as to lift the trip" lever out of engagement with the lug 17, the springs 8 and 9 then operating to return the contact carrier to normal posltion.

- Washer 11 of the car ier acts link 28 adapted to permit a I pipe section,

1 pling-and a It may be here explained that one of the pipe sections 6 is secured to the casing l at the rear and the other or movable pipe section extends into the contact carrier and engages the same near the forward end. When the contact carrier is projected, the to compress the spring 9, since the opposite end is held stationary by the movable pipe section '6, which is interlocked with the fixed pipe section. The contact carrier of the counterpart coupling which is retracted by the projection oi. the other carrier operates to compress the inner Spring 8 by moving the movable pipe section 6 relative to the fixed so that in the coupled position, the springs 9 of the projected carrier and the springs 8 of the retracted carrier are in a state of compression and thus act in uncoupling to return the contact carrier in the counterpart coupling to normal position.

If desired, fluid pressure means may also be provided for operating the trip lever 16, such as the construction shown in Fig. 3, in which an operating finger 21 is secured to the shaft 18. A vertically movable pin 22 bears on the finger 21 and said pin engages the end of a stem 23. The stem 23 is adapted tobe operated by a piston 24 subject on one side to the pressure of a spring 25 and having a port 26 opening to the opposite side through which fluid under pressure may be admitted to the piston. It will be evident that by supplying fluid through the port 26 to piston 24, said piston will be operated and the pin 22 depressed to thereby actuate the finger 21 and trip the lever 16, so as to allow the projected contact carrier 3 to return to normal position.

The coupling may be suspended from the car coupler so as to have, in some degree, an independent coupling movement, and for this purpose the rear end of the coupling may be connected to the car coupler 27 (shown in fragment) by a central pivoted longitudinal movement of the electric coupling relative to the car coupler. The forward end of the coupling is supported by bolts 29 secured to the car coupler 27,.said bolts being loosely mounted in the electric coupling, as shown in Fig. 5, so as to permit a certaln amount of longitudinalmovement of the electric coupling with respect to the car coupler. Interposed between a lug 30 on the electric couportion of the car coupler 27 is a coil spring 31 which tends to yieldingly maintain the electric coupling in a slightly projected position. This spring may be mounted upon a stud slidably mounted in the lug, 30, and having a head'bearing against,the coupler, 27. The/forward meeting end of the electric coupling maybe provided with a gathering nose 32 and a recess 33 so arranged that the gathering nose the outward movement of 32 engages the recess 33 of a counterpart coupling in the act of coupling, for the purpose of bringing the counterpart couplings into proper register.

The relative longitudinal movement of the coupling permits adjustment of the coupling heads for variations in alinement and the like.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an electric train line coupling, the combination with a casing containing a plurality of fixed contacts connected to corresponding train line circuits, and a movable contact carrier having contacts, of mechani cal means adapted to be manually operated for projecting said carrier to electrically connect the fixed contacts of counterpart couplings, a spring mechanism for resisting the outward movement of said carrier, and alocking device for holding the carrier in its projected position.

'2. In an electric train line coupling, the combination with a casing containing a plurality of fixed. contacts connected to corresponding train line circuits, and a movable contact carrier having corresponding c0ntacts, of mechanical elements mounted in said casing for projecting said carrier to contacts of counterpart couplings, a manually operated device outside said casing for actuating said mechanism, a spring mechanism for resisting the outward movement of said carrier, and a locking device for holding the carrier in its projected position.

3. In an electric train line coupling, the combination with a casing containing a plurality of fixed contacts connected to corresponding train line circuits, and a movable contact carrier having contacts, of arack and pinion adapted to be manually operated for projecting said contact carrier to electrically connect the fixed contacts of counterpart couplings, a spring mechanism for resisting the outward movement of said rrier, and a locking device for holding the carrier in its projected position.

4. In an electric train line coupling, the combination with a casing containing a plurality of fixed contacts connected to corresponding train line circuits, and a movable contact carrier having contacts, of a rack mounted on said contact carrier, a pinion meshing with said rack, a manually operated handle for rotating said pinion to project said carrier and responding fixed contacts of counterpart couplings, a spring mechanism for resisting said carrier, and a locking device for holding the carrier in its projected position. I

In ,an electric train line coupling, the

electricallyconnect the corcombination with a casing containing a plu- 1 0 position.

6. In an electric train line coupling, the combination With a contact carrier adapted to be projected into a counterpart coupling to electrically connect the train linecircuits, of a. spring mechanism for resisting movement of the Contact carrier in opposite directions from normal position, comprising interlocked pipe sections and a spring for opposing relative movement of said pipe sections.

7. In an electric train line coupling, the combination with a contact carrier adapted to be projected into a counterpart coupling to electrically connect the train line circuits, of a spring mechanism for resisting move ment of the contact carrier in opposite directions from normal position, comprising pipe sections having interlocking Longues for limiting the relative movement in one direction and a spring for opposing relative movement in the opposite direction.

8. In an electric train line coupling, the combination with a contact carrier adapted to be projected into a counterpart coupling to electrically connect the train line circuits, of a spring mechanism for resisting movement of the contact carrier in opposite directions from normal. position, comprising pipe sections movable in one direction With the contact carrier, a fixed pipe section, said pipe sections having interlocking tongues to limit relative movement in the opposite direction, a spring for opposing movement'of the movable pipe section, and a spring interposed between the movable pipe section and the contact carrier for opposing movement of the carrier in one direction.

In testimony whereof l: have hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS R. BRONN.

llitnes'ses S. W. Knnrnn, BARBARA HERBERT 

